Country: Netherlands
Closing date: 23 Feb 2017
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organisation that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. Working together with local staff, we give direct support to the population. MSF also appeals to those in power, including governments and international organisations, and speaks out about the abuses we encounter in the course of our work.
MSF coordinates operations through collaborations between global offices. ‘Artsen zonder Grenzen Nederland’ (MSF-Holland) has a partnership with offices in the UK and Germany. This partnership, known as ‘MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam’ (MSF-OCA), operates medical humanitarian interventions in about 25 countries. Annually, MSF-OCA deploys approximately 1,100 international staff and employs 7,000 national staff.
The office of MSF-Holland located in Amsterdam hosts more than 250 employees, offering direct support to MSF-OCA operations.
In the Logistics department, the Field Support Unit (FSU) gives support to the logistics staff in the field, which includes the support to construction activities.
With immediate effect our Logistics department is looking for a:
Field Construction Advisor (FCA) (100%)
Based in Amsterdam (hybrid position)
The main objective of the position is to assist the mission coordination teams and the operational desks in it their role of "contracting owner"/ "maitre d'ouvrage" / "opdrachtgever" during the initial phases of the assigned construction projects, translating the medical/operational needs into architectural plans and associated projects plans to achieve them. As the initial processes of complex constructions require an important presence in the field, the FCA will therefore spend more than half of his time in the field. The FCA will be assigned with a limited portfolio of concurrent complex/big constructions and will focus exclusively on those projects. The position reports to the Coordinator of the Back Office of the FSU.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The FCA will assist the mission coordination and the desk in its role of “contracting owner” to achieve the completion of the initial phases of the projects, these being:
Definition of needs (Needs assessment; Operational/medical programming; General information on the existing situation (mission context/objectives, medical activity); Future medical activity (relational diagram, functional program description (space, necessary equipment and installations)); Description of desired quality level (on activities, hygiene, human resources and the budget)
Feasibility study / Site assessment (Technical analysis (diagnosis, context, available resources, etc.); Assessment of the site (dimensions, topography, environmental constraints, water source, drainage, etc.)
Drawing of plans (Basic plans; Technical description (surface area chart, flowchart, general layout, pre-budget, project timeline (planning))
Final budget estimate (Final plans + detailed budget estimation + project timeline; Calls for tender, evaluation of contractors and bids; Works contract (according to the chosen construction site set-up)
As the construction work will be handled by construction managers (field position), the FCA will hand over the projects to these appointed staff.
As some level of support may be required in these final phases of the project, under the request of the “contracting owner”, the involvement of the FCA could also be required then (e.g. participation during delivery of the construction works and final acceptance)
CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Qualified Architect (preferred) or Building/Civil Engineer
- At least 5 years of experience in the definition and managing of construction projects (required)
- Experience in architectural design (required)
- Experience in design of Health Structures (desirable)
- Previous overseas work experience in humanitarian assistance
- Ability to work independently with minimum and/or without supervision
- Flexibility with regards to the ever-changing content of the job and the circumstances in an MSF mission.
- Excellent communicator and stakeholder engager
- Good level of English, French is an asset
- Ready to spend more than 50% of his/her time in the field
WE OFFER
- A challenging and exciting position in an international environment
- A hybrid contract (spend 50% of the time in the field) for a year with a renewal option (subject to satisfactory performance) based on a fulltime appointment (40 hours/week).
- A gross monthly salary between € 2,709 and € 3,870 depending on professional experience, based on a fulltime appointment
- Other benefits include 30 holidays based on a fulltime appointment and a premium-free pension plan.
How to apply:
INFORMATION & APPLICATION
If you are interested in this post and would like additional information, please contact Mr. Francis Coteur, Coordinator of Technical Logistics on tel. +31 (0)20 520 8574
If you believe that you fit the profile, you can react directly via the 'Apply' button at our website.
Please upload a letter of motivation and Curriculum Vitae in English as one combined document.
Deadline for application is 23 February 2017.